LIVE-ish Carnival Magic May 19 - May 26 Family Cruise Eastern Caribbean LET’S CRUISE!

[Saint Greg]

21 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Let’s play Guess the Towel Animal!

 

 

 

Dog

[TravelBluebird]

3 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

Dog

@Saint Greg That is what we decided—long, skinny dog!

[TravelBluebird]

We had a FANTASTIC. view of pier runners today from our aft cabin!  And a hilarious bunch of people on the ship egging them on.  I’ll have videos on my YouTube Channel when I return! 

[TravelBluebird]

We were docked next to the Carnival Venezia today!  My transatlantic on her still one of my favorite cruises ever!  And we ran into the wonderful MarQ who remembered us!  Hugs all around, he’ll be on Venezia till August then over to Vista!

Edited May 23 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

The 7:45 comedy show is great—no lines.

 

seeing Kiev tonight who evidently does rock  impressions—guitar on stage!  PG show.

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Great dinner menu!  Too many things I like so I had too much!

 

Had the Pumpkin Soup—an Emeril selection. Only thing I didn’t lije—last cruise it was perfect.  Tonight it was more tomatoey than pumpkin.

 

Also had the crab/fish cake, beef Wellington and the Bitter and Blanc bread pudding.  All YUM! 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 23 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Kiev was very funny!  Listening to the lovely violin trio in atrium while some of my family does some shopping thing in the stores.

 

Silent Party tonight!  We love those. 

[TravelBluebird]

Tried to go to the next Punchliner show with DH but was standing room only by the time we got there. Sean Finnerty.

 

Ended up back at the Alchemy Bar with DH —rest of family went to pool.  Was going to branch out from Chocolate Martini but—-didn’t.  DH is having a virgin Cucumber Sunrise—he is REALKY missing the Lyres Drinks this trip.

 

 

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Tomorrow is Grand Turk!  Tried to convince group to go a bit early to get loungers at Jacks Shack but no one will listen to me.  Ah well!

 

The report from the snorkeling and catamaran excursion was it was lots of fun although perhaps not a large variety of fish.  Both everyone learned how even tho DH couldn’t be in the water giving lessons because of his arm.

[TravelBluebird]

Zora and DH won’t let me have the Martinis in the tall glasses with the tiny stem anymore ,cause I’m a klutz and spill them 😂

 

Edited May 24 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

LOL we just figured out we are THOSE Grandparents that bring their family on a cruise and are yes, having a great time, but also enjoy hiding in a corner for a little peace and quiet 

 

We are listening to the Clarosciuro duo. 

 

 

Edited May 24 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

DH just decided he HAD to see the Country Roads show and ran off and will see me at the Silent Party later.

 

So now I’m just grandma sitting’ in the corner nursing her Martini till the rest of the family shows up.  
 

The people watching is great from my corner!  And I think that other than my balcony occasionally it’s the first alone time I’ve had this cruise.

[TravelBluebird]

Best laid plans of mice and grandmas never work out.

 

Everyone checked the app and there was no age restriction that we saw on the Silent Party. The one I went to on Venezia which was also 10pm was not age restricted. But if it’s in VIBE, the nightclub, it’s 18 and over.

 

So instead of the Silent Party I took the boys to the arcade so their parents could have some alone time. 

 

Stipulations in the arcade was had to be a game of skill, none of those spin the wheel and win tickets things.

 

We had a blast—had 2 skee ball tournaments, and also played this little ‘shoot the tokens” thing which looks a lot like those quarter things in the casino…so a little on the edge, but it gave long play for the $$ and it was fun strategizing where to shoot the tokens.

 

We spent about $25 but it was cheaper than a night in the casino for sure! I think we ended up with about 600 tickets; prizes nothing to write home about.

 

Then we had pizza; very short line at about 11 tonight.

 

 

 

Edited May 24 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Today’s random cruise thoughts:

 

First time I’d been to a beach in Dominican Republic. It was quite nice; not too crowded, water warm, no rocks to stub your toes on in the sand or things to cut your feet!

 

Our table service was lightning fast tonight in the MDR; even though we all didn’t make it on time from our day out.  We noticed lots of empty tables tonight at our 6pm seating lots of people were even more tired than we were.

 

I always have a great time at Amber Cove. Don’t know why; just really enjoy the port and Puerto Plata area. Feels very safe also, compared to some of the other Caribbean ports, which is amazing since the other half of this island is Haiti.

 

With 2 fairly large ships in port, for whatever reason the port shopping area and also in Puerto Plata didn’t feel very crowded—I’ve been here when I have felt more crowded.

 

Always beautiful sailing in and out of this port; was a treat to back into the port with the tug at the pack since my balcony is aft.

 

My flare up is much better; at least there is still some cruise left! I will enjoy that for rest of trip (we don’t get home till Monday; staying extra day in Fort Lauderdale area).

 

Those people in the “eat in our room all cruise” room are still doing it. Today the offerings to the Hall Gods included two slightly moldy oranges. Are they food hoarders? Stowaways that dare not show their faces in the MDR or at the buffet? Inquiring minds want to know!
 

With this new digital disembarkation thing, you now can order your disembarkation tags at any point in the cruise. So we’ve had ours in our room to depress us most of the week. 

 

I haven’t had much time to gamble in the casino this cruise; I do miss it, but family was first and I can’t very well be up half the night gambling then be up early for ports or family time. Hope I continue to get the casino offers!  My free drinks in the casino have amounted to 1 Martini so far, that one night when I got to play. Maybe I’ll get some casino “me” time tomorrow night since I don’t have to be up early our last sea day.

 

OK, that’s it for tonight! I have some more photos I want to share from Amber Cove /Dominican Republic but they are on my phone which is charging. Right now i’m on my iPad on my balcony.  I find the noise at the back of the ship so soothing!

 

Please let me know if you have any questions about the ports or the Magic!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Oh wait, one last thing. Weather was not bad today at all; overcast so a little cooler; a bit of a breeze; I’m out on my balcony at 12:30 AM and it is humid but quite pleasant.  I was worried about weather cruising in the summer, and honestly, much better than the incredible heat we had going to the ABC islands at the end of September.

 

91 predicted in Miami for disembarkation. That WILL be hot!

[TravelBluebird]

Gorgeous day here in Grand Turk!

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

We are at Jack shack in grand Turk, and it’s just a perfect day. The only thing that isn’t perfect is this is the first time I’ve been here that the beach is completely covered in seaweed all the way up and down the beach. Next to Jacks Shack are giant white bags full of seaweed that they are trying  to get rid of and I think they’ve given up the battle.

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

We left the ship right around 9:20 and I was worried we couldn’t get a good spot at Jack’s and of course, most of the front row by the water was taken up but we got lucky and we’re kind of in between where Jacks Shack and another small place that isn’t selling seats ended so we have a lovely view of the water.
 

It seems that Jack shack has added quite a few loungers so there are more than when I was here last time. Another great improvement is they have a whole bunch of very fast white fans in the bar and food area and it’s nice and cool there now.

 

Our lounge chairs were four for $46 including two big umbrellas. The place next-door which was not very busy was two umbrellas for $30 less crowd, but no bar and I didn’t see a restaurant or a bathroom. 

 

 

Edited May 24 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

If I forgot to mention it we are in port today with the Carnival Vista.

[TravelBluebird]

They really need food and drink service TO the beach loungers at this point at Jack’s Shack.  I’ll wait 45 minutes for food at my lounger but not doing it standing in line!  And I really wanted those conch fritters even though they now cost $20 (!!)

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Some selfish human is blasting a boombox here on the beach. I come all the way to Jack’s Shack for the peace and quiet. If I wanted music, I’d be at Margaritaville.

[TravelBluebird]

Back on the ship!  Wasn’t going to eat lunch but I didn’t have breakfast.  Got hot, hungry and dehydrated on the walk back.  So I just had most of a Guy’s Burgers and fries which may mess up my plans for a big formal evening dinner. 
 

Getting back to the ship has been a bit disorganized—hope everyone makes it!  But I was NOT going to be standing with everyone on the pier waiting for the one family member who has a little trouble telling time, and making my late lunch even later.

 

Don’t worry, my family knows I talk about them online—it’s like having a comedian in the family.  Occupational hazard if you come on a cruise with me! 

 

 

 

Edited May 24 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

The blues of the water in Grand Turk never fail to amaze me!  So beautiful.

 

Hope the seaweed is a temporary thing.

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

My family made it back! 🎉

 

Beautiful sail away of the Carnival Vista just now! 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 24 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Some more photos from Jacks!  Also there are some new sweet beach dogs.  Sure miss Topher though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 24 by TravelBluebird